Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Bitch Is Back

Skinny Bitch changed my life. I was already vegan when my best friend Sheridan called me crying one night, going on and on about the torture of farmed animals she was reading about in Skinny Bitch. She told me she was giving up meat that night, and she did. That was several years ago. Now she's vegan. She also convinced me to read the book. I didn't think I needed to. I mean, I was already vegan, right?

But I was still eating crap — high fructose corn syrup, diet sodas, white bread. Skinny Bitch helped me rid those things from my life. I'm often bored by reading nutrition books, but Kim and Rory write like I talk. Their no-nonsense style and potty mouths made the book fun!

Well, now Kim Barnouin is back with a supermarket guide on how to find vegan alternatives to just about anything. Skinny Bitch: Book of Vegan Swaps is not a cookbook. In fact, there's only 10 recipes in the whole book.

There's also chapters on what to eat at the airport (Wolfgang Puck Express, salads from Sbarro) and ideas for weekend snacks (Tings, anyone?). Plus, there's a list of Kim's favorite recipes, like these Peanut Seitan Noodles:

These whole wheat noodles were coated with a sesame-peanut sauce and mixed with snow peas, carrots, cucumbers, and seitan. Delicious! I wish the book had more than 10 recipes, but I know it's intended to be a supermarket guide rather than a cookbook.

Experienced vegans probably don't have much use for this book since we all know the best hummus and the best vegan cheese. But this advice would be invaluable to a new vegan trying to navigate the world of cruelty-free goods. My only concern: New products are constantly being introduced in the vegan food world (Remember life before Daiya? Yea, those were dark days of trying every trick in the book to melt Vegan Rella.) This book has the potential to become dated quickly, so I hope Kim is prepared to frequently release updated editions.

That being said, this book is perfect for the here and now. And I have an extra copy that I'd like to give away to one lucky reader (if you're an old vegan, save it to give to the next new vegan you meet). Here's how to win:

1. Leave a comment letting me know your favorite vegan food product.2. "Like" Vegan Crunk on Facebook and let me know about it in a separate comment.3. Tweet a link to the giveaway and make sure to tag me @biancaphillips. Then leave a comment letting me know you tweeted.

Remember, you only need to enter once for a chance to win and you can do so by simply leaving a comment (see #1). Any extra entries for Facebook likes and Twitter mentions just help your chances, but if you're not on FB or Twitter, don't sweat it. I'll randomly select a winner on Monday night. Oh, and don't forget to leave your email address in a comment if you're not easily contactable through a blog.

71 comments:

I love fresh foods, but I hate grocery shopping, so I only "shop" maybe once a month or less. I buy in bulk, make my own bread and have started making my own faux meats (is there a better term?) So no matter what, I love my own home made foods best. If I had to purchase something in the store, I would have to say that huge bag of Brussels Sprout I get from Costco, along with the oversized bag of organic brown rice. If I have both of those, I can make a meal for anybody.

I think there may be too many awesome swaps to name just one! But I am so happy that I can show people that vegans can eat the same dishes as everyone else, just veganized. I really love the Tofutti products, the cream cheese and sour cream, both taste like the real thing :) And everyone knows Daiya is the bomb!

I love any of the Quorn or LiteLife products. I am not a vegan, but it is my desire to get there some day. I have always been a junk-food-atarian so the last 12 years of my vegetarian life has mainly consisted of processed food, dairy, etc. In January I made a lifestyle change to eat less processed foods and more natural foods. Therefore, I am looking for creative ways to be healthy and move into the vegan lifestyle.

I adore you and your blog. I find it inspirational. Thanks for all you do to help me help save animals and be a healthier person.

Sounds like this is a GREAT shopping guide for new vegans! Although my family is not vegan I have a son with multiple severe food allergies whose diet is limited to about 30 foods. Learning to shop for him was a nightmare, so I can totally identify with a new vegan learning to shop for appropriate products!

Hmmmm.....I've been a vegan for so long (17 years) that I don't tend to use a lot of meat/dairy replacements, other than soy milk. However, I recently discovered Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo and I love it, so I guess that's my favorite!

No need to enter me, but what is it about a potty mouth that makes something so much more interesting? I have a friend who curses like a sailor, and everything she says is hilarious. Thanks for being on the tour!

I've never read the original Skinny Bitch, but having read this I'm inspired to check it out. Unfortunately this new book would be really saddening for me to read about delicious vegan products most of which I can't get in the UK, maybe it's worth me creating a UK vegan guide on a blog post. Thanks again x

Hi! I'm a new vegan and would LOVE this book! I'm having a blast discovering new food alternatives, but financially it would be great to have a handy guide to steer me away from buying too many "mistakes" along the way. :-) So far I'd say Anne's Goddess dressing is a favorite, my hubby and I like it on brown rice and veggies or a host of other things.

My name is Bianca ...

About Me

I'm a 9-year vegan, 19-year vegetarian from the Mid-South, not too far from the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. And that means cornbread, butter beans, and collard greens.
These days, I live in Memphis. Check out my cookbook — Cookin' Crunk. It's filled with yummilicious veganized soul food and country classics.